Wales head coach Sean Lynn says beating the Barbarians on Saturday would mean everything to his side.
- Sean Lynn urges Wales to stick to processes and avoid being drawn into the Barbarians' flashy, ball-in-hand "jouer" style.
- The Barbarians boast megastars like Ruby Tui and exciting 10, 12, 13 options, posing a huge challenge for youngsters.
- Alex Callender returns as captain, adding vocal leadership while mentoring youngsters around the squad.
- Carys Phillips earns praise; playing for the Barbarians against Wales is a special, celebrated moment and a thank you for her service.
- Sean Lynn says the season has been exhausting; multiple tournaments and some PWR players received an extra week off.
Wales head to Allianz Stadium on a nine Test losing streak and will be without some of their Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) stars for the double-header involving the Wales and Baa-baas men’s teams.
It means Lynn will look to Wales’ next generation of talent as they prepare to come up against some megastars of the women’s game.
“You look at 10, 12, 13, they’re very exciting for the Barbarians and then you’ve got Ruby Tui who’s going to be explosive,” said Lynn.
“But what a challenge for us, what a challenge for some of our girls to be going out there.
“For us to go to Twickenham on Saturday and beat the Barbarians is everything, but within that, we need to be making sure we are sticking to our processes.
“We can’t get sucked into the ‘jouer’, of them throwing the ball around about, it’s about us.”
Praise for past and present captains
Lynn has been boosted by the return of Alex Callender who will captain the side.
“Before she was a leader with her actions, but now with her voice, she’s been brilliant,” said Lynn of the back-row forward.
“It’s amazing to have her back into the squad and being around all the youngsters as well.”
Lynn was also full of praise for former captain Carys Phillips, who lines up against Wales for the Barbarians.
“It’s absolutely going to be an amazing occasion for her,” he said.
“Everything she has done for the women’s game in Wales, in England, all around the world, and for her then to be playing for the Barbarians against her national team it’s pretty special for her and a huge thank you.”
The never-ending season
The uncapped Barbarians game will bring the curtain down on a long season for Lynn and his squad, with Lynn yet to have a break since taking on the head coach role in March 2025.
That year’s Six Nations was swiftly followed by the two-Test tour of Australia, the Rugby World Cup, the Celtic Challenge and this year’s Six Nations.
“Individuals from PWR who have played a lot of game time are not going to be involved [this weekend], they needed an extra week off,” said Lynn.
“It has been a long season, but as a group of staff and players, we are benefiting from this because there is a goal at the end of it and that’s the Barbarians on Saturday.”
